NewsShearis Yisroel at Vacation Spots

by B. Rabinowitz

Shearis Yisroel has received numerous requests from
institutions, organizations, seminars and yeshivas asking
them to kasher vacation sites for the chareidi
community during the summer.

The kashrus network is responding by working at an
unprecedented scope to meet these requests for places which
are supposed to cater to thousands of people this summer.
Various organizations, including Lev L'Achim, Toda'a and
yeshivas and seminaries from all over the country have
already registered in the kashrus department to open
vacation sites after supervisors have completed arrangements
for kashering and around-the-clock supervision.

Kashrushashgocho.

Shearis kashrus supervisors discovered many difficult
problems over the years in sites that they inspected,
indicating that people who are meticulous about
kashrus and tsnius throughout the year often
become lax during the summer. Many rely on misleading
advertisements claiming that all products have outstanding
hechsherim. Unfortunately, often the special
mashgiach of which these places boast receives his
salary directly from the owner of the site creating an
obvious conflict of interest.

Inspectors and mashgichim arriving at vacation sites
in order to kasher them have related that owners of
these sites often rely on various heteirim that are
normally not used by bnei Torah. "It should be clear
to all that many stumbling blocks and conflicts of interest
arise when the owner of a concern gives himself his own
hechsher. Such a situation can have unpleasant
consequences," one of the inspectors told Yated
Ne'eman.

As awareness of this issue is increasing, more people are
demanding that summer vacation spots have formal
hechsherim. Shearis Yisroel adheres to strict
arrangements in line with instructions issued by its
BaDaTz.

The arrangements entail complete kashering of all
kitchen utensils, equipment and surfaces, as well as clear
guidelines regarding the use of raw materials.

Procedures regarding Shabbos, tsnius, bishul akum, the
separation of milchig and fleishig, etc., are
also determined for the vacation periods. A mashgiach
temidi is appointed, who is responsible for the site's
kitchen and complete grounds as well as supervision of the
eruv. The BaDaTz of Shearis has appointed a special
supervisory kashrus inspector to be responsible for
kashrus in all the vacation sites under its
supervision.

Observers note that reliable kashrus supervision at
vacation sites is vital in order to maintain the
kashrus and halachic standards to which we adhere year
round.